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Added 9 October 2026

cheek

/t͡ʃiːk/ noun

In Latin: gena, bucca Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about cheek at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Either side of the face below the eyes.
An impudent statement.
Either of the two large fleshy masses of muscular tissue that form the human rump.

verb

Speak impudently to.

Origin

From Middle English cheeke, cheke, cheoke, choke, from Old English ċēce, ċēace, ċēoce (“cheek; jaw”), from Proto-West Germanic *kākā, *keukā (“jaw, cheek”), from Proto-Germanic *kēkǭ, *keukǭ (“jaw; palate; pharynx”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *ǵyewh₁- (“to chew”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Sooke (“cheek”), West Frisian tsjeak (“jaw”), Dutch kaak (“jaw; cheek”), Swedish käke (“jaw; jowl”), Norwegian kjake (“jaw”), Old Norse kók (“mouth; gullet”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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